Tough love for Colt McCoy

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on August 29, 2010, 6:11 PM EDT

In recent days, a report/rumor emerged in Cleveland that quarterback Colt McCoy, widely regarded as a steal in round three, could be cut. Coach Eric Mangini did nothing to dispel the speculation, explaining that he could keep four quarterbacks on the roster — or he could keep only two in Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace.

The situation suggests that there’s something about McCoy’s skills, work ethic, and/or demeanor that troubles the Browns, and that they’re trying to get the rookie to realize that he’s not on scholarship for 2010.

In three preseason appearances, McCoy has played like a guy who couldn’t earn a scholarship to Prarie View A&M. He has generated a passer rating of 34.3, which is lower than the passer rating from throwing an infinite number of passes that bounce off the ground.

After the final play of Saturday’s loss to the Lions, cameras provided a glimpse of the frustration that McCoy has caused for coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

After McCoy heaved a final-play Hail Mary that landed well to the right of the end zone, Daboll met McCoy at the sideline, gesturing and speaking in a way that suggested that Daboll was saying something along the lines of,”Why in the hell didn’t you throw it in bounds?” Then came Mangini, with a priceless mixture of impatience and exasperation on his face as he gestured toward the 500-square-yard target into which the football should have landed. McCoy made the mistake of trying to explain himself, which resulted in more chatter from the coach.

Though I’m no lip reader, I think Mangini eventually said something like, “Just f–king throw it up.” Or maybe he said they should sweep together.

“Then came Mangini, with a priceless mixture of impatience and exasperation on his face ”
Thats his usual face anyway.

DonTerrelli says:Aug 29, 2010 6:34 PM

“The situation suggests that there’s something about McCoy’s skills, work ethic, and/or demeanor that troubles the Browns, and that they’re trying to get the rookie to realize that he’s not on scholarship for 2010.”
You must be forgetting that the Browns are backwards and troubled, themselves.

Florio-is-a-tool says:Aug 29, 2010 6:40 PM

But hey at least he’s better than Tebow or something like that I keep reading from Texas fans… A guy who can’t even throw a hail Mary into the field of play is in serious doo-doo.

ICEWALKER says:Aug 29, 2010 6:58 PM

In three preseason appearances, McCoy has played like a guy who couldn’t earn a scholarship to Prarie View A&M. He has generated a passer rating of 34.3, which is lower than the passer rating from throwing an infinite number of passes that bounce off the ground.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
OUCH!
How will it work if he gets cut and put on the practice squad? Any team can pluck him off that unit then, correct? A lot of teams would take a chance with him.
(“Bring him to our team and we’ll coach and use him the right way.”)
UPDATE: I looked up the rules. Looks like McCoy would probably either be cut outright or kept on as the 3rd QB. Browns would get squat for him.http://www.ehow.com/facts_4793705_nfl-practice-squad-rules.html

Clevelander says:Aug 29, 2010 7:06 PM

Yeah Florio, you’re nothing like that writer in Dallas that made that prediction about Revis.
I need a roll-eyes emoticon here.

BROWN1954 says:Aug 29, 2010 7:06 PM

Colt McCoy has confidence issues. If you watched his face when in the game, he looked like a deer in headlights. I also watched him in the huddle. He tried very hard to avoid looking his team mates directly in the face.
It was obvious. He is not in command of his confidence and thus, not in command in the huddle or during the plays.
I wondered how long it was going to be before we started seeing frustration from the coaches. Mangini and Holmgren are very unhappy with McCoy’s play. He’s missing throws that a Pop Warner quarterback should be able to throw. I think he may be a bigger bust than Quinn.
He looks scared! He is scared! He’s playing scared!

HereThere says:Aug 29, 2010 7:17 PM

Brown54: “I also watched him in the huddle. He tried very hard to avoid looking his team mates directly in the face. It was obvious. He is not in command of his confidence and thus, not in command in the huddle or during the plays.”
Oh, so you were in the huddle? And you’re sitting in on Mangini and Holmgren’s meetings? As for McCoy being a bigger bust than Quinn, you’re smoking something.
Cleveland sports fans: always good for a laugh.

ShaKey says:Aug 29, 2010 7:19 PM

After McCoy heaved a final-play Hail Mary that landed well to the right of the end zone, Daboll met McCoy at the sideline, gesturing and speaking in a way that suggested that Daboll was saying something along the lines of,”Why in the hell didn’t you throw it in bounds?”
He wanted an extra second. Thats how he rolls.

The Tire Slasher says:Aug 29, 2010 7:22 PM

Why did Holmgren piss away a third round pick on this kid, anyway? One look at him in college and it was obvious he wasn’t an NFL-caliber QB.
Damn. I totally need to get GM gig.

Jersuza says:Aug 29, 2010 7:28 PM

Colt McCoy at Texas was surrounded by a very talented football team that plays in a mediocre conference that doesn’t play defense. He is the ultimate product of hype by a college sports information department. Remember the sessions with Gruden? Clueless. He wouldn’t have a chance against the Ravens and Steelers defenses.
Nice young man, but he will not be able to earn his living as an NFL QB.

bomismorg says:Aug 29, 2010 7:30 PM

since the championship bowl game colt has looked like a fool. to his daddy running into the locker room to his daddy making comments when tebow was drafted to shipley mentioning tebow at the wedding. tebow is three times the player, a man and a human being than colt. his record speaks for itself. dont worry texas has not forgiven him and his daddy for not playing in the championship game because of “no feeling in his arm”. he didnt want the nfl to see him struggle so instead of playing hurt he stayed on the sidelines and lifted things with his dead arm that texas fans saw. clipboards,drinks and patting people with his dead arm. what a daddys boy p*ssy

sharkattack says:Aug 29, 2010 7:52 PM

Yep, lets hit the panic button after a 3rd round pick struggles in the preseason of his rookie year. He can still put it all together. No one can say he will be a great QB, but on the flip side no one can say he can’t. Well you can, but you would be an idiot. Also he showed signs of life last night. 10/14? improvement is all you can hope for from a developmental rookie.

J-Lamont says:Aug 29, 2010 7:58 PM

yes, the battle of two third string QB’s who will have 0 bearing on the NFL but somehow overshadow guys like Kyle Orton and Jake Delhomme who are twice the player they are. Gotta love NFL journalism.

LateNightRoach says:Aug 29, 2010 8:22 PM

There have been times when every single QB in this league has had bad games and has looked like crap.
See the media darling Mark Sanchez, for example. Oh that’s right…he gets a free pass for sucking. lol

Fonetik says:Aug 29, 2010 8:26 PM

If I was Colt, I’d be doing everything humanly possible to get cut. Get the hell out of Cleveland, another team will give him a shot. Cleveland is where football players go to die.

Pat_McCrotch2.0 says:Aug 29, 2010 8:27 PM

Lmao…jesus christ wtf is wrong with you ppl.hes a young kid just starting his NFL career with of all teams the fkin browns. so i dunno what ppl expected but if they thought McCoy was going to be the next drew brees then the joke is on you.
give mccoy a fkin chance b4 everyone busts his balls

@Denisceo says:Aug 29, 2010 8:33 PM

Step up Colt!

NE49ers says:Aug 29, 2010 8:39 PM

the browns don’t know how to develop talent. he may be better off with another team

bomismorg says:Aug 29, 2010 8:40 PM

the reason colt gets his balls busted is because he is a whiny daddys boy homo. nobody CARES IF YOU STRUGGLE IF YOU PUT THE TIME IN BUT HE GOT EVERYTHING HANDED TO HIM BY HIS DADDY.F##CK HIM AND THE WAY HE HE CHOKED AT TEXAS.

tobago says:Aug 29, 2010 9:54 PM

thats right, Florio, he is not on scholarship. Cut him.

T-Wack says:Aug 29, 2010 10:02 PM

BOMISMORG…you are an absolute idiot. McCoy won more games at Texas than any QB in College football HISTORY! Is that choking you moron? Your daddy should have whipped your ass every day of your life. (I’m sure he wanted too)

CKL says:Aug 30, 2010 12:19 AM

The kid shouldn’t be anywhere near a real game this year, just as Holmgren prefers.
I know some rookie QBs have had success even with less than average teams around them but it’s rare (Stafford is the only one who comes to mind). Personally I wouldn’t let any rookie QB start at all his first year especially on a below average team.
Anyway, where’s Deb? I know she will enjoy this entry. 😀